The Post’s basketball experts predict the winner of the Knicks-76ers first-round NBA playoff showdown which begins Saturday night at Madison Square Garden:
Stefan Bondy
The play-in game scene of a hesitant Joel Embiid, flustered by Miami’s defense and not too far removed from knee surgery, left the impression he’s not close to 100 percent.
Which means the Knicks can single him out in pick-and-rolls and hope Embiid’s not confident in his knee to attack the basket on offense.
Knicks in 6
Peter Botte
Facing Embiid in the first round isn’t the best reward for pushing to finish second in the East, but Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks have a viable MVP candidate of their own in Jalen Brunson, a two-way weapon in OG Anunoby and confident and capable role players used to playing heavy minutes.
Knicks in 7
Brian Lewis
The 76ers have wings to throw at Brunson.
But the Knicks made Embiid work in beating Philly by 36 on Jan. 5; Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein will do it again.
Knicks in 7
Mike Vaccaro
It ought to be a hell of a series, and the Sixers come in on a nine-game roll.
Look for both teams to take at least one on the road.
But if the Garden gets its first Knicks Game 7 since 1995, the ending will be different this time around.
Knicks in 7